The donkey cart traveled back down the mountain, following the path they had come up.

"Master."

Ma Xun’s face was filled with indignation.

"Are we just going to let this go?"

"Manager Ding mentioned wanting to see the Young Master, and Yuan Chong and his son immediately gave him a vicious beating. There’s definitely something wrong with this situation."

"And that Zhou fella..."

"The Forest is clearly the Young Master’s property, and Ding Anx is its manager. What right did he have to order him flogged? Isn’t this a blatant disregard for our Zhu Mansion?"

If even Ma Xun could see this, how could Elder Qin, who had lived for decades and experienced the ways of the world, not understand?

"Ever since the Black Tiger Gang was wiped out at the start of the year and the Sunx Family Patriarch died, Leping County has been completely dominated by the Zhou Family."

Elder Qin sighed.

"Besides..."

"That Zhou Ye is no easy opponent."

As the most outstanding member of his generation in the Zhou Family, Zhou Ye had already cultivated Inner Qi and was a likely successor for the position of Patriarch.

If they had tried to force the issue back there, they would have only brought humiliation upon themselves.

"Master."

Ma Xun’s brows furrowed tightly.

"So are we just going to let it go?"

"Of course not." Elder Qin chuckled and shook his head.

"People bully the kind, just as they ride the gentle horse. If we let them walk all over us and do nothing, they will only oppress us more in the future. They will only stop when they know you are not to be trifled with."

"Then what should we do?" Ma Xun’s eyes lit up, but his expression quickly dimmed.

"You said it yourself. The Zhou Family dominates Leping County now. With them as backers for Yuan Chong and his son, there’s nothing we can do to them."

As for fighting...

Although Elder Qin had Inner Qi, he was severely injured. He couldn’t even compare to Zhou Ye of the younger generation, let alone the Inner Qi Experts of the older generation. And there was no point even mentioning the Young Master.

"Young man, you need to broaden your horizons. Don’t be confined by this tiny Leping County." Seeing his gloomy face, Elder Qin couldn’t help but smile and point toward the distance.

"It’s true the Zhou Family dominates Leping County, but what do they amount to anywhere else?"

"In a few days, this old man will travel with the Young Master to Hejian Prefecture. When we get there, we’ll inform the Young Miss of this matter, and it will naturally be resolved."

Ma Xun’s spirits lifted.

’That’s right!’

’The Young Master might not be capable, but his sister married well. Her husband is currently a big shot in San Fen Hall.’

’When the time comes, San Fen Hall could just send a few people over, and the Zhou Family would be brought to heel.’

’This is the advantage of having connections!’

"Ma Xun."

Elder Qin took in his expression and advised him,

"You must remember, without the Young Master, neither of us would be where we are today. We can never fully repay his kindness."

"You must respect the Young Master. Do not ever slight him!"

"Yes." Ma Xun composed his expression.

"I remember."

Elder Qin nodded slowly. ’Although Ma Xun’s mind wanders a bit, he knows gratitude and is loyal by nature. He’ll definitely be able to take care of the Young Master in the future. I won’t have to worry about a powerful servant bullying his master.’

’It would be even better if the Young Master were a little more promising.’

"WHOA..."

Ma Xun suddenly yanked the reins, halting the donkey cart. He yelled at the figure that had abruptly appeared in the middle of the road.

"What do you want?"

"Watch where you’re going!"

"Hmph!" The figure was tall and slender with a stern face. Despite the biting wind, his upper body was clad only in a short vest, revealing powerful muscles. He merely grunted coldly at Ma Xun’s angry shout, his gaze shifting past him.

"Elder Qin."

"Hmm?" Elder Qin raised an eyebrow, his right hand slowly moving toward the long saber at his side.

"You know me?"

"I am Yuan Bao."

"Yuan Chong’s second son?"

"Yes!"

"Yuan Chong raised a fine son." Elder Qin’s eyes narrowed. His five fingers wrapped around the handle of his saber as he spoke with a sigh of emotion.

"Why are you blocking our path?"

"I have long heard of Elder Qin’s great name, and that his Yin Wind Saber is exceptionally sharp." Yuan Bao cupped his fist in his other hand and said in a low voice,

"Now that I have the chance to meet you, I must ask for a lesson!"

THUD!

He stomped a single foot down. The ground rippled like the surface of water, and dirt flew up in a ten-foot radius.

’Inner Qi!’

’An Inner Qi Expert this young?’

"WHIIINNNY..."

The frightened donkey shrieked, its front hooves rearing wildly. Ma Xun had to use all his strength to barely keep it under control.

"Good!"

"A fine Yuan Bao indeed!"

Elder Qin’s expression turned grave. With the ringing sound of a saber being unsheathed, a cold glint of light tore through the air.

Yin Wind Saber!

A sinister wind suddenly rose, chilling one to the bone.

BANG!

Yuan Bao clenched his five fingers into a fist. The gauntlets on his hands, made of some unknown material, collided with the incoming saber without breaking.

Rolling Stone Fist!

This was a Fist Technique from a Martial Arts Hall in Leping County.

The Fist Technique was unremarkable and had no outstanding features, but in his hands, it carried the momentum of a Mountain Collapse.

"CLANG..."

"BANG!"

The figures in the clearing blurred together, Powerful Qi crisscrossing the air. Then, they suddenly separated. Yuan Bao let out a muffled groan and staggered backward.

"As expected of Elder Qin. Your reputation is well-deserved."

He took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent Qi Blood within his body. He gave Elder Qin one last, hard look, then turned and left. Within a few breaths, his silhouette vanished into the mountain forest.

"An Inner Qi Expert in his early twenties, and not from a great Noble Family..."

Watching the figure disappear, Elder Qin’s expression was complicated.

"After so many years, aside from the Old Master, another figure of such exceptional Talent has appeared in Leping County."

"Ma Xun!"

"Here."

"Let’s go."

"Yes."

The donkey cart continued onward. Once they were down the mountain and on an empty stretch of the main road, Elder Qin suddenly leaned forward and spat out a mouthful of blood. His aura plummeted.

"Master!"

Ma Xun’s face changed drastically. He hastily stopped the cart to support him.

"What’s wrong?"

"Back to the city." Elder Qin struggled, waving his hand dismissively.

"Hurry, back to the city!"

He was already injured, and weakened by old age. He relied on medicine every day just to maintain his body. Forcing himself to fight this time had damaged his foundation. He had held on until they were down the mountain before spitting blood only to guard against any potential pursuers.

*

*

*

Zhu Mansion.

Elder Qin, wrapped in thick quilts, lay on a recliner under the eaves, letting Ma Xun feed him medicinal soup bit by bit.

His eyes were listless and his face was deathly pale. His aura was like a flickering candle in the wind, threatening to be extinguished by the slightest breeze.

Three days had passed since the trip to the Forest, and his condition was only getting worse.

Someone from the apothecary had come to see him, but only shook their head in regret. In the physician’s eyes, it was a miracle he had even lasted this long.

"Enough."

Gently shaking his head, Elder Qin stopped swallowing the soup and spoke in a hoarse voice,

"Go practice your saber..."

"...Yes." Ma Xun lowered his head in assent. Fearing he would be unable to hold back his tears, he turned, picked up his long saber, and walked into the courtyard.

He had long since mastered the moves of the Yin Wind Saber, but today, his mind kept wandering as he practiced. He found himself constantly glancing toward the back courtyard.

The faint sound of a door opening made Ma Xun jolt. "The Young Master is back!" He hurriedly dropped his saber and ran toward the back courtyard.

Not long after.

A phantom-like figure seemed to appear in Elder Qin’s line of sight, materializing before him in a single flash.

"Elder Qin."

Zhu Ju’s voice rang out.

"Young Master..." The familiar voice jolted Elder Qin. Life returned to his eyes.

"You’ve returned."

"...I’ve returned." Zhu Ju’s voice trembled.

"Don’t speak."

He placed a hand on him gently. Vast Qi Blood surged from his body and flowed into Elder Qin’s Physical Body.

Qi Blood Nourishing Body could also be used to treat illnesses.

Alas...

Zhu Ju’s movements slowly came to a halt. He turned to Ma Xun, his voice ice-cold.

"Who did this?"

Ever since he was injured when bandits invaded the city, Elder Qin’s body had been deteriorating day by day. He needed to take medicine on schedule just to slow the decline, but he was still far from the end of his natural life.

And now...

He was beyond saving by medicine!

"It was Yuan Bao," Ma Xun gritted his teeth.

"Yuan Chong’s second son!"

"Yuan Bao?" Zhu Ju frowned. He had seen Yuan Bao once, back when he had first arrived in Leping County.

"He cultivated Inner Qi?"

"Yes," Ma Xun nodded.

"Yuan Bao is already an Inner Qi Expert. That’s how he was able to injure Master so badly on top of his old wounds. I only regret... that my own strength is insufficient."

"Young... Young Master." Elder Qin struggled to raise a hand, grabbing Zhu Ju’s sleeve. He looked at him and shook his head gently.

"Don’t worry about me. Don’t... pay me any mind. I’m just going down to find the Old Master... and the Madam."

"Elder Qin." Zhu Ju grasped his hand, his voice softening.

"You get some rest. I’ll be right back."

...

Thanks to the "extra" income from the Forest, Yuan Hu had long since bought a house and established a household in the county seat.

Today, he had been drinking with friends. Drunk, he swayed and staggered towards his residence.

"Hic..."

Letting out a drunken hiccup, Yuan Hu grinned.

"The damn Leng Family? So what if they have an Inner Qi Expert? My Yuan Family will be a great family in the county from now on too."

"Heh heh..."

"That old slave from the Zhu Family must be about to die. Three days and not a peep. Are they too scared to even mention revenge?"

"Young Master Zhu?"

"A piece of trash!"

BANG!

He pushed open the door and an unfamiliar figure came into view. Yuan Hu rubbed his eyes, his vision gradually clearing.

"Zhu Ju?"

"Where is Yuan Bao?" Zhu Ju’s face was as cold as ice.

"Speak!"